Improvement in apparatus for preventing explosions of steam-boilers



c. w. SUVLZBACH.

APPARATUS FOR'PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS OF STEAM-BOILERS.

No.172,898. Patentecl F eb.1,18 76.

y l A 1/ A I l IIIIEt wbi'd'mt fizz/012201 I N.PETERS, PHOTOYLITNOGRAFHER WASHINGTON. D. C

UNIT D STATES PATENT QFFron GARDW. SULZBAOH, VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA.

IMPRQVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS 0F STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,898, dated February 1, 1876; application filed i February 25, 1875.

. in mind that the ultimate object of the same is to secure steam-boilers against explosion. To effect this object I have constructed an apparatus to work automatically having two precautionary actions and a final action, removing all possibility of explosion. It also acts to prevent too great a supply of water, making, in all, four distinct operations. It will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the general construction and arrangement of the same. Fig.2 is a vertical section, showing the general construction of the interior. Fig.3is a sectional view of the alarm attachment.

A represents the cylinder, which is operated for the purpose of operating the feed-gear or water-supply. In the cylinder. A is the piston, to which the connecting-rod is attached, for the purpose of operating the exhaust-valve rod 1 by means of the projection or stop j upon the same coming in contact with the projectionskk upon the exhaust-valve rod l. The pins J and K operate the slotted valve-levers m and m. The piston 19 operates the belt-shifter N, which operates the feed-gear or pump by means of the tight and loose pulleys M.

The cylinder B operates'the counter-weight d, for the purpose of opening the safety-valve a,

. by means of the safety-piston N, the jointed leg I), the tilting tube 0, the counter-weight d, the chain c, and leverO, which connects with and operates the safety-valve lever P. In the safety-pipewis the small opening q, in the rear of the safety-cylinder B, designed to throw ajet of steam upon the alarm-wheelp, upon the axis of which is the crank T, which connects with the bell s by means of the wire 17. Connected with the float-cylinder O is the valve-chamber D, in which or, y, and z are valves,which have the levers g, 1;, and 0. The valves .19, 3 and zregvulate the supply of steam to the pipes u, v,

and w. I The pipes E and F are connectingpipes, for the purpose of connecting and disconnecting thefloatcylinder G with the boiler. G is the float.

the rods R and S, upon'a screw-thread, for

the purpose of operating the valves 41;, y, and v 2, by tripping the levers g, t, and 0. The levers t' and 0 are returned to their seats by the springs T and V, and the lever g byits own weight, thus closing the valves or, y, and z.

The following is the operation of same: The water being at the required level, the connecting-pipes E and F maintain the same waterand the right level is maintained, no action is caused; but, should the pump feed too fast, and the water rise to the upper limit of the water-line, then the float G rises, and the plate H comes in contact with and operates the valve-lever 9, opening the valve 41:, allowing the steam to pass through the pipe to to the cylinderA before the piston f, Withdrawing the piston-rod, and shifting the belt to the feedpulleys M upon the loose pulley, when the pump immediately stops, and the water recedes in the boiler. At the same time that the belt is shifted-the connecting-rod h is drawn back, and the projection j meets the projection is, and forces back the exhaust-valve rod 1, operating-the-slotted levers W and X,

and opening the exhaust-valve Y, and closing the exhaust-valve Z at the same time. The water continues to recede in the boiler, and,

reaching the low-water line, the float Gr operates the lever iby means of the lower plate I, thus operating the valve 3 through the pipe o' to the cylinder A, behind the piston f, forcing the piston rod out, and again shifting the belt to the tight pulley M, thus setting the pump or water-feed in motion, and raising thelevel of water, as will be readily understood.

Should, by the failure oft-he pump, or from other cause, the supply of water fail or be in- H is the upper, and I the lower, tripping-plates, which are adjustable upon sul'iicient, and the water-line still continue to recede, then the float G will descend with the same until the plate I trips the valve-lever o, the "alvezis opened, and the steam passes through the pipe w to the safety-cylinder B, and immediately commences to discharge, through the opening q, against the alarm-wheel p, revolving the crank 0, which rings the bell or other alarm by means of the wire t, and continues alarming until the piston N touches the jointed leg or toggle joint b, tripping the same, and dropping the edge of the tilting table 0. The counter-weight d, then resting in equilibrium over the leg L, is setin motion and liberated, operating the lever O by means of the chain c, and immediately opens the safety-valve a-by raising the valvelever P, thus relieving the boilerfrom all pressure by highly-heated steam or gases which might be produced by too low a stage of water, and preventing all danger of explosion, while the water is still at a safe stage to allow time for extinguishing the fires, or taking other precautionary measures.

The communication may be cut off from the boiler at any momentwithout interfering with the ordinary feeding apparatus, or in any way with the working of the boiler, in the ordinary way, by simply operating and closing the stopcocks in the pipes E and F.

The advantages of my improvement are, first, that it is self-acting and thoroughly adjustable, for the purpose of regulating the water-supply, as has been shown; second, it works automatically to give notice at any and all points where those interested may be employed when danger o explosion is near-for instance, in the engine-room, factory-rooms, or superintendents office third, it operates antomatically to relieve the boiler from all danger of explosion before the water is sufficient- 1y low in the boiler to be unsafe; fourth, it is attachable and detachable, for the purpose of examination and cleaning, without interfering with the working of the pumps or ordinary feeding apparatus,or in any way hindering the working of the boiler or machinery.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The cylinder 0, provided with the float G, the adjustable plates 11 and I, and the pipes E and F, in combination with thecylinders A and B, and pipes 14, c, and to, all arral'iged substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. I claim the cylinderA, having the piston f and pipes u and 'v, in combination with the valves y and z, the whole being arranged and operating substantially as described.

3. The pipe to, having the opening q, to operate the alarm or bell s by means of the alarm-wheel p, the crank r, and the connectlug-wire t, in combination with the valve 2,

plate I, and float G, when constructed and op- CARL WILHELM SULZBAC H.

Witnesses:

N. GILMAN, JOHN H. REns'roNE. 

